I appreciate all comments, and, LaRee, yours especially. It helps a lot to understand why someone didn't vote for an entry. I meant this to be evocative and intended it to be discomforting; what I had not fully considered is that some might have a personal connection to such a tragedy and whether it is appropriate to bring discomfort to an unsuspecting viewer in any medium of "art" is a question which remains unsettled in my own mind. I considered titling this "Dream" or "Nightmare" but the immediate visceral impact that raf spoke of probably could not be ameliorated by any title so you've brought home a point I hadn't considered -- and should have.

LaReeMay 17, 2011

Congrats on your top 5 place. This evoked too much bad emotion for me. I have a friend who's sister jumped from a building to end her life. This struck too close to home for me. I couldn't get past the morbid and very sad feeling it threw me in. It just seems wrong. Your post processing on this one is very clean and well done, I will say that though.

Jade O.May 16, 2011

Lo, I laughed when raf suggested she was coming down vertically. She wasn't moving at all of course. Always appreciate the comments (and the votes!)

Bill, all comments are appreciated but your first comment is very much appreciated. Summed up what I was thinking; as always, sure would like to hear from those who didn't like it though since I think we learn most from those who don't like our entries.

LoMay 16, 2011

Congratulations Jade - it's a great shot - It was interesting to find out how you actually achieved it. Like Raf, I thought for sure she was jumping - perhaps on a trampoline.

wrosenthalMay 16, 2011

Glad it made the top 5, but I would have put it higher. It probably put too many demands on the viewers' emotional responses.

Comments After End of ChallengeComments During Voting

Jade O.May 15, 2011

Lo, you'll be pleased to know she wasn't hurt :-)

LoMay 15, 2011

This is a great picture - even if it freaks me out to see a child catapulting backward onto the pavement. I would have been so much happier with a body of water below - but I have to admit - it made me look!

Jade O.May 14, 2011

raf The immediate visceral discomforting reaction was the goal so glad it worked for you.

I always appreciate in depth critique. The jury is in with the shadow (should be lighter) but while I don't agree with the dress, she is actually lying on a rug in the living room, I found a sharp outline looked too pasted on to me (but maybe I was wrong), and her look is just her looking back at the camera, no expression requested by me - I thought it enigmatic and hard to read in the context and for me, makes the shot since you look to the face for clues and cannot read what it says.

fc I enjoy the comments especially and the interpretations. This could be just a dream, or a suicide, or a moment of perplexed wonderment at what has happened just prior to the scream...

rafinmelbMay 13, 2011

Generates an immediate visceral reaction. So on that count alone it must rate highly. The PP is done with skill but there are some things which a pro would spend more time/thought on.

I am not that pro but I am privileged to regularly see the work of one who would love this shot. She would pick up on a couple of things: - the shadow is probably a little overdone; - the hair and dress indicated she is coming down vertically from a jump rather than falling backwards - the areas around the edges are not 100% particularly the legs - she is struggling to keep the sort of serious/scared look of someone plunging to her deathOnly offer them as ways to take this to the next stage.

Edited on May 13, 2011

forkcandles May 13, 2011

only missing the open mouth scream.. what a result and out of the box thinking.

Jade O.May 13, 2011

Thanks, Old Finn. Yes, two images, the girl and the background.

Old FinnMay 13, 2011

Good work. I assume the picture is a combination of two pics.

Jade O.May 13, 2011

Thanks elliott. You have a keen eye. The shadow IS a bit forced but I thought it necessary to keep it from being overlooked; a paler shadow had less impact but I agree it should be less harsh. The body and face I can't explain as that is how it was out of the camera but with the arms, I think they are out of camera as well - I don't recall if I applied a slight guass blur to the arms to add a sense of motion but I don' think I did. Maybe I overdid the cut-out by blurring the edges to avoid a cut and paste look. She is actually just lying on a rug in the safe comfort of a living room -- the dress thing worked out better than I expected.Edited on May 13, 2011

elliottMay 12, 2011

tops for technical and closest to theme of challenge. pixel peeping.... light not harsh enough on her to create shadow as shown.... as sharp as the edges are (facial features), they aren't consistent with edges on her limbs. just minor things.disturbing theme but that is what will turn heads to your work in this case. well done number one!! el

Jade O.May 12, 2011

Bill, your comments mean a lot. I deliberately withheld comments in extra info. This could, for example, well be a dream sequence and who has not awakened after dreaming they were falling? But it was also intended to evoke emotion, and even I find it a very uncomfortable image -- perhaps because it seems disturbingly real!

wrosenthalMay 12, 2011

I hope I am not the only one who thinks this is very good. It is disturbing, but it not only meets the spirit of the challenge, it evokes emotion. That's good photography and it is my favorite.